Paul and Sandra Dunham admitted to Northampton General Hospital shortly before they were set to be handed over

A retired British couple who were set to be handed over today for extradition to the United States have been taken to hospital.

Paul and Sandra Dunham were due to leave their home in Northamptonshire this morning for London but were taken to Northampton General Hospital, a spokesman for the couple said.

It is understood emergency services were contacted when the couple did not emerge from their home as expected.

The pair lost a High Court battle last month against extradition to Maryland to stand trial over charges relating to Mr Dunham's company Pace.

Mr Dunham, 58, who was chief executive, president and a 20% shareholder in Pace - a US company manufacturing soldering irons for the electronics industry - was indicted on 13 counts of fraud and money laundering by a grand jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, in December 2011.

Mrs Dunham, also 58, is accused of eight counts of fraud for allegedly aiding and abetting him.

The Dunhams' failed High Court case heard that Mr Dunham had suffered several mini-strokes and mental health problems, and Mrs Dunham was suffering from depression.

The couple were due to arrive at Belgravia Police Station this morning and were to be taken to Heathrow and handed over to US marshals.